Krywosa, IMC

Indeed: my feed reader is, in fact, blowin’ up. The past 24 hours have been intense. The one thing I personally didnt see coming was the proliferation of music: buying, gifting, searching. Its all over the place.

Today, MySpace unveiled enhancements meant to appeal to consumers and content providers alike. Funny since we’ve all been reading articles that announce the continued sickly state of the MySpace platform.

Also announced yesterday, Facebook has launched a music gifting service which allows users to purchase and gift music to other users.

On top of all this, Google is rumored to have a music service of their own, allowing searches to yield downloadable purchased tracks. Tuesday, Apple began Tweeting about iTunes.

Although the music industry has been deemed dead for a very long time, it appears that by adding social and searchable attributes, music is now becoming integrated into everyday digital interactions a bit more easily. But, what does this mean for the industry itself? Will this help struggling companies or will it open up a whole new mess of problems between artists, rights owners and labels?

I recently read an article in Ad Age regarding how brands will be lost in Facebook Lite.  After a quick spin via Facebook lite last week, I found my reaction to be ’so what?’.

Per Twitter convos, I’d also consider the Lite version to be not only useful for those on a slow connection, but for people who are sick of the constant interruptions. Chat, apps and pages that may otherwise clutter up your home feed – its a streamlined version with easy access to people and news rather than toys and brands. Initial results seem to be a slow adoption, probably of curious Twitter users checking out the hype.

It seems odd that the Lite version is lacking in brand presences for businesses when Facebook is trying to feign Twitter like functionality for businesses to reach consumers. Although they’ve introduced new functionality, it seems those who chose to use Facebook Lite wont be able to interact with brands as easily. Considering that more serious social media users may chose the pared down version of Facebook to avoid extraneous posts, it seems that early adopter types may be the ones that are being missed by businesses who could lose the opportunity to interact in ‘Lite’.

Facebook also finally sees Twitter as a legitimate threat, but, does Facebook Lite make sense if the audiences and reasons for use are different? Those that enjoy multiple applications and quiz results most likely are not Twitter users who enjoy the more pared down communication that Twitter provides. For the Twitterati, Facebook seems to be a place to hold pictures and video, interact with those who are not Twitter users, and to feed Twitter updates and information to.

Could Twitter replace Facebook? In my opinion, no. Could the opposite be true? Absolutely not.

Thoughts?

In a rare meeting prior to setting up a Twitter account, one department asked me to tell them how much is too much Tweeting. I realize I got ahead of myself by not letting them finish and blurted out ‘I will never tell you that you are Tweeting too much – its impossible.’ Here’s what I meant:

Twitter Reading is Selective

Its easy to scan each tweet to see if you need to read further. Its the nature of the communication medium: Twitter users become accustomed to short bursts of information and, in my opinion, are very good at skimming the content. In my own use, I find that I skim, and go back and re-read if its important. This also assumes you are an avid user and have enough followers to dilute multi-tweets from one account.

Following Takes the Place of a Feed

Do you read every post that comes through your RSS reader? Didnt think so. The same is true with Twitter. I dont expect that every Tweet you post from orientation will be read but it will be searchable. Think of it as a bookmark for that information. Someone’s going to stumble upon it at some point and find it useful.

I fear the opposite much more than I do over-tweeting. Do you have a magical equation that you use for your branded account?

Last week, I began to ponder the style of a branded Twitter account with fellow Twitter peeps @lanejoplin, @timnekritz, @radiofreegeorgy, @thanhancock, @bradjward. Supposedly, as channel/community manager, you’re taking on the brand persona, right? Or are you putting your own persona into the brand? Do you have a plan for your tweets or are they random? The more this was discussed, the more a blog post it deserved.

Personally, I’ve been putting on the University brand, primarily, touting University events, related news stories and of course, Boston updates. One thing I’ve not been doing too much of is interacting. Being someone who endlessly preaches ‘interaction, integration and two-way communication’ I cant really sit idle any longer: Its time to Tweet.

As I move forward in discussing and commenting on students and other follower/followees there’s a line to draw. How much is too much? Is too little robotic? Can I really chime in on how much I loved the Cuddy/House drama last week (Thanks for the input, @lanejoplin:) )?

I’d love for branded tweeting to take on a more personal touch, but how much of that touch is one person’s idiosyncrasies and lovable quirks versus a unified branded approach? Can both live simultaneously in harmony? What happens when the (hopefully, luckily) loved persona moves on or becomes too busy?

I’m thinking the answer is a little bit of both: stay true to the university brand and persona while also injecting a little personality to keep things interesting. Of course you wont get political or attach links to stories that’ll stir the pot, but generally, you’ll be able to have fun while providing information.

That’s what social media is all about, right?

In another installment of ‘getting to know Jess’ and after many great Twitter conversations created around @rachelreuben’s conference Tweeting, I’m attaching links to a few choice publications that I authored in my previous position. I think they are still relevant in the conversation of ‘is social media worth it’, especially for low income families.

Achieving College Access Goals: The Relevance of New Media in Reaching First-Generation and Low-Income Teens

How College Access Marketing Campaigns Can Utilize Social Networking Web Sites

Creating a Strategy for Community Engagement

Ah, and here we are again: people complaining about how Facebook has changed its layout yet again. Think about it: did you end your account last time? No. You probably used it more.

As for the suggestion that FB wants to be the ‘new’ Twitter, its impossible. People who Twitter do not equal those who FB. Even though to some they seem interchangeable, they are in no way such.

Yes, I agree, the new home page for your FB account does seem a bit Twitter-esque but at the same time is a baby step towards Twitter for those who are social media newbies. Maybe it will facilitate more people understanding Twitter, but wont take the place of.

Not sure about you, but I enjoy Twitter for its compactness. Its simplicity. Its sole purpose. I dont have to follow all convo’s if I dont want to. I am not inundated with apps and chain letters. If you do something rivaling that, I simply unfollow you. Case closed.

Twitter for me is immediate. Its taken the place of blogging, FB’ing – except for keeping up with people who do not Twitter -, and reading my RSS feeds. I get everything in one quick stop. I find new people more easily. I respond much quicker.

Has the new FB affected you? Do you think it rivals Twitter in any way?

With all of the recent Tweets regarding who to follow, how to follow and why to follow its made me think a lot about what Twitter means to me. There have also been just as many, if not more, posts about Facebook: what content to feed to your wall, privacy settings for business contacts, etc. Which leads me to: whats the big deal?

I’ve found that people respond to the fact that I have constant content additions from a number of places. Even those who do not live and breathe social media find some information useful, funny or thought provoking and tell me so with a message. Past business acquaintances comment on my new dog or family members post follow ups to Friendfeed items posted for work from Google Reader. Isnt the cross pollination what social media is all about? The greater spread of information in a quicker format?

Further, I dont know if I subscribe to many of the ‘gain tons of followers’ or ‘get the most out of Twitter/Facebook’ posts that I’ve seen. I feel its much more organic. “If you use it they will come”, if you will. Just like losing weight, I dont believe there is a quick fix or magic equation.

As I said in my previous post, I find that I learn more from people that I dont necessarily have a common bond with than those that I do. I’ve learned more about myself by disagreeing and having a thoughtful discourse than by engaging in ‘yup’ comments tirelessly. Its made me carve out what social media, or anything, really means to me. Having more followers than I can probably handle makes this even clearer: I find that what I’m drawn to may not be what I originally thought I would be. The need I feel to comment on something is much stronger that the feeling that I have to comment.

How often do you disagree with people? Do you follow/friend those much different from yourself or stick with those who are like minded/of the same industry?

I’ve noticed lately that I’ve become somewhat of a hermit in the eyes of my non-digital friends. My ‘in real life’ (IRL) peeps. I wonder if this is detrimental or if its only made to feel that way by those who just dont get the benefit of virtual friendships.

Dont get me wrong: I’m by no means sitting home all day every weekend chatting or xboxing with people across the globe as my main point of human contact. I still go out on the weekends. I still catch the occasional post work drink with coworkers both past and present. I’m still entertaining in my home and meeting people offline in the dating world.

If you’re like me, you know a large number of people online that you may have never met. Not yet, or maybe, not ever. Does that make these relationships less real? Are they one dimensional? Are they just ‘pretend’ or ‘play’ friends? I’d argue not. But some people may have you thinking of yourself as Sandie Bullock’s character in ‘The Net’. Kinda sad. Too much food delivery and not enough interaction. But that was the 90’s and now these types of relationships proliferate and people need to update their judgements.

Some of my online peeps are more involved in my life than some friends I live close to. Some comment more on my virtual existence which bleeds into my ‘real’ life  (blogs, Twitter, Facebook pics and posts, etc.). Lately, I’ve spent more time Tweeting TV shows, football games and social outings with online peeps that they’ve become my main base of contact. But here’s why: I have the ability to always be connected. Sad as that may sound, with the cold, harsh winter taking its toll on my outings with friends, and my recent lukewarm feelings for phone conversations, Tweeting/Facebooking/Texting have become the norm even with IRL peeps.

My argument is that I’m more connected to people than ever. Just because I’m not face-to-face doesnt mean that my interactions are any less fulfilling. I know more now about more people than ever before because I can be updated in real time. I can comment on things that I may not normally have known or be told because they get caught up in the minutia of every day life. I’d argue that I feel closer to more people with minimal effort. I’d ask my non-connected friends why they arent?

So: what is ‘real life’? How do you feel about your digital existence?

It seems that I get asked ‘Jess, why do you use Twitter?’ on a daily basis lately. It made me think about why – is it just for fun? Informational? Here are my top five reasons why in no particular order.

1. Its Fun: Yes, its obvious. If you’re spending most of  your day checking in with people (most of whom you dont know IRL) you’re going to have a bit of fun. Between Elfing Yourself and Cowbelling, its going to get a little less than boring. True.

2.  Its Educational: Even as a relative Twitter newbie, I cant tell you how many times I’ve learned things via Twitter that normally I’d not have bumped into on my own. Today’s example was Bettie Page’s death. I had no idea – I dont watch or read the news much – and probably wouldnt have heard.  And when I did, it would have been much, much later. Now I learn things more quickly. (PS and look like I’m informed!)

3. Its Helped My Working Life Tremendously: With the growing list of people I follow, I’m able to interact with some of the greatest minds in my field. People who, normally, I’d not be able to reach quickly, and if at all, never mind a response. Access to like-minded professionals in the industry has been one of the greatest take aways from my Twittering. Have a question at work or need to know of a great example of something? Ask your Twitter Friends and get instant feedback. Pay attention to people and you find gads of information on topics you care about. Again – look like you do a lot more work paying attention to the Internet than you do by passing along information you share with your Twitter folks.

4. Networking, networking, networking: Sure you meet people at conferences and work but do you regularly interact with them? Do you read their blogs via RSS or email with them? Twitter has cut all of that out for me. I can now access people instantly, and more than likely, receive their blogs this way as well. I’ve abandoned several feeds in my Google Reader because of this. Also, by interacting with these people, you’re building your personal net worth. By providing them with helpful information, not just shouts, you are creating a rise in your own personal brand.

5. Shameless Self Promotion: Of course, Twitter is an easy way to boast and show off. Provide your blog via a feed. I’ve seen my traffic quadrupled in a couple of weeks by doing this alone. I get asked questions. I engage in philosophical discussions. All of this helps you build on your networking and who knows, maybe even end up with a job out of the situation. Regardless, everyone promotes something on Twitter, the key is, to do so in a helpful way. No body likes an all caps guy, basically, the equivalent of a ‘feeder only’ or ‘your commercial here’  kind of existence on Twitter.

So come on in!

@jesskry